Components of age-friendly cities
Age-friendly neighbourhood design incorporates modifications, adaptations and improvements to three key areas of the community and city design: (1) the physical and built environment; (2) the social environment; and (3) housing.
Physical and built environment Menec et al. (2011) describe the built environment as comprising the outdoor spaces (e.g. green spaces, parks, walking trails), buildings and natural environment of a community, such as its air and water quality. The physical and built environment are important factors in age-friendly community design. For older adults of various physical capabilities, attention must be paid to facilitating ease of mobility, such as when navigating the built environment …show more content…
First, older adults are given a greater number of opportunities to contribute within the community (Sharlach & Lehning, 2013). This includes a range of flexible options for older adults to participate actively in the community, such as through volunteering, employment, mentorship of others and through social gatherings and events (Alley, Leibig, Pynoos, Banerjee & Choi, 2007). Novek and Menec (2014) illustrated this when they conducted a photovoice study on age-friendly neighbourhood characteristics with 30 older adults in four communities in Manitoba. Three themes emerged from their qualitative analysis that underscored the importance of the community social environment in promoting the health and wellness of the older adult participants: activities and volunteering, and community supports and health services (Novek and Menec, 2014). Utilizing a more quantitative approach, Hand, Law, Hanna, Elliot and McColl (2012) analyzed the relationship between the characteristics of age-friendly neighbourhoods and social inclusion using a cross-sectional survey of 248 older adults with chronic health conditions. Their results showed that higher levels of neighbourhood social cohesion, safety, and proximity to amenities were associated with increased levels of social support, social network size and life satisfaction, even when adjusted for factors such as income and education …show more content…
Within the age-friendly community framework, health services range from acute care to long-term care services, as well as home care programs that provide nursing care and assistance with activities of daily living within the older adult’s home (Menec et al., 2011). Additional community supports that facilitate social interaction and social inclusion are “meals on wheels” programs (where seniors receive meals delivered to their home); congregate meal programs; transportation services/volunteer drivers; volunteer visitor programs and caregiver support and respite services (Menec et al., 2011). The importance of the integration of these services into the age-friendly social environment is evidenced in a study by Lehning, Smith and Dunkle (2014). Through surveying 1,372 older adults in different neighbourhoods of Detroit, Michigan, multivariate regression analysis found a strong positive correlation between age-friendly environment factors such as health care, social support and community engagement and levels of self-rated health (Lehning, Smith & Dunkle,
Age-friendly neighbourhood design incorporates modifications, adaptations and improvements to three key areas of the community and city design: (1) the physical and built environment; (2) the social environment; and (3) housing.
Physical and built environment Menec et al. (2011) describe the built environment as comprising the outdoor spaces (e.g. green spaces, parks, walking trails), buildings and natural environment of a community, such as its air and water quality. The physical and built environment are important factors in age-friendly community design. For older adults of various physical capabilities, attention must be paid to facilitating ease of mobility, such as when navigating the built environment …show more content…
First, older adults are given a greater number of opportunities to contribute within the community (Sharlach & Lehning, 2013). This includes a range of flexible options for older adults to participate actively in the community, such as through volunteering, employment, mentorship of others and through social gatherings and events (Alley, Leibig, Pynoos, Banerjee & Choi, 2007). Novek and Menec (2014) illustrated this when they conducted a photovoice study on age-friendly neighbourhood characteristics with 30 older adults in four communities in Manitoba. Three themes emerged from their qualitative analysis that underscored the importance of the community social environment in promoting the health and wellness of the older adult participants: activities and volunteering, and community supports and health services (Novek and Menec, 2014). Utilizing a more quantitative approach, Hand, Law, Hanna, Elliot and McColl (2012) analyzed the relationship between the characteristics of age-friendly neighbourhoods and social inclusion using a cross-sectional survey of 248 older adults with chronic health conditions. Their results showed that higher levels of neighbourhood social cohesion, safety, and proximity to amenities were associated with increased levels of social support, social network size and life satisfaction, even when adjusted for factors such as income and education …show more content…
Within the age-friendly community framework, health services range from acute care to long-term care services, as well as home care programs that provide nursing care and assistance with activities of daily living within the older adult’s home (Menec et al., 2011). Additional community supports that facilitate social interaction and social inclusion are “meals on wheels” programs (where seniors receive meals delivered to their home); congregate meal programs; transportation services/volunteer drivers; volunteer visitor programs and caregiver support and respite services (Menec et al., 2011). The importance of the integration of these services into the age-friendly social environment is evidenced in a study by Lehning, Smith and Dunkle (2014). Through surveying 1,372 older adults in different neighbourhoods of Detroit, Michigan, multivariate regression analysis found a strong positive correlation between age-friendly environment factors such as health care, social support and community engagement and levels of self-rated health (Lehning, Smith & Dunkle,